White Cottage Cemetery, Lawrence County, Ohio
Location: South Point
Take the Solida Road exit from Rt 52. After a short distance you will come to the junction of Solida and North Kenova Roads. This is where the cemetery is located.
Report and photos by Kate Maynard, 2008
(Click on a thumb for larger image.)
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Washington A. Gilliland The stone for Washington A. Gilliland, b. 1841, Hamilton Twp., Jackson Co., OH; d. aft 1900, South Point, Lawrence County, OH. Washington was a son of George and Julina (Canter) Gilliland of Jackson County. |
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The same stone after a good cleaning with a mild detergent, copious amounts of water and non-abrasive scrubbers. The flag holder was also added. |
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Ada (Gilliland) Mann |
Additional Notes
Sigh. This is one of those cemeteries that at one time was probably situated in a bucolic setting on the edge of town but has been swallowed up by a neighborhood that has seen better days, not to mention some heavy traffic from its position very near the South Point exit from Route 52. Like too many small towns and villages in Appalachian Ohio, there is little money for cemetery upkeep and in this case it shows.
There is no parking available for this cemetery. When you reach the intersection where it is located you'll need to turn right and park at the Dollar Store down the road. Then you'll have to walk back (no sidewalks) against traffic to get to the site. Adjoining the cemetery is a group of three, shoddy yellow buildings (one is actually collapsing), including what appears to have once been a garage but now houses a pit bull on a chain that will try to eat you as you walk by.
Though the cemetery is neatly mowed there are no fences, lights, or footpaths. There are a number of missing or deteriorated stones. I wanted to share a private moment with the graves of my gr-grandfather and great aunt Ada but felt totally exposed as traffic whizzed by me from all sides.
The stone for my gr-grandfather, Washington A. Gilliland, veteran of the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, is located in the Mann family plot. He is buried beside his youngest daugher Ada Gilliland Mann and her husband. Washington is the only one of his family (that I know of) who is buried in Lawrence County, where he moved late in life from Jackson County, with daughter Ada. He died from smallpox at some time between 1900-1910, probably before 1905.
More Information
For more on White Cottage Cemetery see:
White Cottage Cemetery (PDF)
The W. Gilliand listed in the index is actually Washington A. Gilliland.